Merry Christmas Eve!!

Everyday this week we've been reading a different prophecy of the Savior's birth while we burned a candle down to a notch that I made on the candle for each day. It was sort of like an advent candle.For Family Home Evening earlier this week, we went through some baby things to give to a family who just had a baby. We delivered them to the family along with a tree and some of our toys the kids had chosen to give up to them as well. On Christmas Eve night after dinner, we decorated Gingerbread cookies. We used melted white chocolate because I think it tastes better than frosting. We also did our annual reinactment of the Nativity. The missionaries were at our house for the evening, so we had an audience. This year we set up a little stage with pvc pipes that had a background and everything. Doesn't Sarah look good?

Here we are decorating Gingerbread houses. We actually did this after lunch. They are tiny wooden bird houses I found at JoAnns for $1.00. They make great ginger bread houses.

And here the kids are leaving cookies for Santa before they go to bed.

Welcome Cousin Melody!

A little late in annoucing, but just couldn't go without posting. Thanks to facebook we have some pictures of our new neice and cousin, Melody Kay Ellen McGiffin. Born on December 10th at 8:33 am 7lbs, 14 oz. 19 1/2" long. My brother Mark and his wife Spring are very blessed. Merry Christmas new little one!!

Christmas break Hike

We went hiking at pine " bump in the road" yesterday. (It's actually called pine mountain, but it is not even close to a mountain-,and just for clarification, NO I'm not from Utah, I'm from the Pacific Northwest) Anyway, it was really nice to spend time together as a family outside. I've been working soooo much with my puzzle biz, that I haven't had the time to do anything like that for a while. We had a happy day.

Christmas Dresses!

I tried my hand at making the "pillow case dress" again. Even though I didn't use pillow cases. I found a better pattern, than I had before, and it only took me about 45 minutes per dress. I just love the way they turned out!! Sarah picked the fabric.

I'm terribly inpatient when it comes to sewing, and the things I make almost never turn out looking right, but I was soooo pleased with these. I think it's because they are the first thing I've ever sewn that might not fall apart after just one wear.